Gear review: Keen Terradora boots

Molly Wainwright takes a pair of Keen Terradora boots to Kakadu.

"Heading to the Northern Territory for a week of exploring Kakadu NP meant I needed a lightweight, breathable boot that was ideal for hot weather but also tough enough to take the rocky trails we'd be walking on. When I heard about Keen Terradora Mid boot specially designed for women I was very 'keen' to try a pair.

A couple of evening's light walking around the block showed me I wouldn't have to spend days breaking them in before the trip. I really liked the straight-out-of-the-box comfort. Also since women’s feet guided the Terradora's design, the shoe is narrower and hugs the heel, which increases stability. Women also tend to have a slightly higher arch, and the Terradora accommodates a female instep. I have a fairly narrow foot and high arch, and I found the shoe to be true to size. The boots fit flush against my foot, but not too tight. The collar sits lower and is low-density – intended to relieve pressure from the Achilles – which I checked off as a comfortable feature.

The rubber toe cap and the mudguard in the toe box provided protection on the rocky track and from the mud as expected. The outsole had a great grip. It gripped on to the mud, slippery rocks and exposed tree roots on the trail. I felt stable on any surface whether on the ascent or the descent.

One of our day walks in Kakadu was to the famous Jim Jim Falls which involved a lot of boulder hopping. We'd had rain the day before so the rocks and boulders were slick and we had to pay attention to where we placed out feet. I felt very confident that my boots wouldn't let me down and I was right. Not once did I slip and land on my bum and that alone means I give the Terradora's the thumbs up!"RRP: $249.99Website: keenfootwear.com.au

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